As Americans celebrate the inauguration of a new president of the United States next week, another new Cadillac will grace Pennsylvania Avenue to lead the proceedings. President Barack Obama will ride in an all-new Cadillac Presidential Limousine, continuing a long tradition of Cadillac limousines that have served many U.S. presidents.
“Cadillac is honoured to again provide a new Presidential Limousine,” said Mark McNabb, North America vice president, Cadillac/Premium Channel. “This is a...

Whilst it looks like an advertisement, it’s still realistic enough to get a laugh. The tow truck driver doesn’t realise who he’s messing with as the female Shanghai driver lets him know who the boss is.

A once-popular Ford Dealership in the US has been labeled as racist in their latest radio advertising campaign.
In South Carolina the Ford O.C Welch dealer’s campaign titles “Wake up America” and takes digs at imported brands, specific to the Japanese stating “all those cars are rice ready… not road ready”.
Without doubt its obvious Ford has struggled this year in its sales of new vehicles but no-one believes this type of advertising will increase this dealer’s market share. Another comment...

The order book has only been open for a few weeks but already the popularity, stylish good looks and performance of the Lotus Evora has attracted some of the world’s rich and famous, who have put their name down to be part of the first group to receive their own exciting 2+2 sports coupe when it goes on sale in 2009.
It’s slightly ironic that the launch marketing campaign for the Evora presents the car as having ‘true character in a faceless world’, as the famous faces have flocked to the...

According to the esteemed publication ‘The Economist’, in 2008 Melbourne, the home of PressPortal, was ranked as the world’s 2nd most livable city behind only Vancouver. In making their decision the Economist considered issues such as the threat of terrorism and the availability of goods and services, however of interest to us is that they also took into consideration ‘effective infrastructure’, which includes mobility.
This got us thinking. Melbourne’s population has been steadily growing...

With speeds on international sliding tracks rising year on year, optimum aerodynamics are becoming a decisive success factor for competitors in Bobsleigh and Luge events. This explains why German athletes have been coming to the BMW Group wind tunnel to test their sports equipment for over 20 years now. In a sport where victories are often decided by thousandths of a second, it can fairly be claimed that the precision data provided by the BMW Group wind tunnel may literally be worth...

AMG, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars, is establishing 175 new AMG Performance Centers worldwide by the end of next year thus offering a more personalized service to customers. A commitment to first-class service quality at every stage in the customer relationship is one of the key elements of the AMG brand promise of “Performance”. This focus on developing an even closer relationship with customers extends to a total of 15 countries. A very special brand experience is also...

The collaboration between Abarth and Intel was begun with the aim of developing innovative products and devices, based on original concepts and state-of-the-art technology.
The first result of the partnership, which was made possible by the support of RTR Sports Marketing, a consultancy agency that specialises in sports marketing, is the Abarth Powerplay Extreme personal computer, a high performance desktop powered by the new Intel® CoreTM i7 Extreme processor, the most powerful microchip...

Michelin has developed a new lunar wheel for the next generation of NASA moon rover vehicles. The structurally supported tire and wheel assembly, made of breakthrough composite materials, was jointly developed at Michelin's European and North American research centers. This unique innovation will help Michelin meet NASA's mobility challenges for manned and un-manned moon missions planned for the coming decade.
"Michelin has partnered with NASA for more than 20 years to provide tires for...

Carbon Motors Corporation showcased today the Carbon 'E7', the world's first purpose-built law enforcement vehicle, in San Diego, California at the 115th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference. Carbon Motors is a major sponsor of the five-day event where over 15,000 senior law enforcement professionals will gather from all over the world. The IACP conference is a key stop on the Carbon Motors 2008 Pure Justice Tour of U.S. cities.
The International Association...

HUMMER and Victoria Police announced today the addition of five HUMMER H3s to the Victorian Police fleet as part of a series of initiatives to address public order related issues.
Provided as part of a no-cost community service initiative, Victoria Police identified the HUMMER as ideal for policing duties throughout Victoria due to their bold exterior look and functional capability.
“Victoria Police is pleased to be working in partnership with HUMMER in our efforts to reduce...

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled its second experimental walking assist device that helps support bodyweight to reduce the load on the user's* legs while walking, going up and down stairs, and in a semi-crouching position. Honda will now begin testing the device in real-world conditions to evaluate its effectiveness.
The new walking assist device with the bodyweight support system reduces the load on leg muscles and joints (in the hip, knees, and ankles) by supporting a portion of the person's...

A clogged oil filter prevents oil reaching the engine and can cause a potentially dangerous engine breakdown.
Toyota Genuine oil filters employ a high-efficiency filtration material to minimise engine wear and to allow the free flow of oil, with minimal clogging effect.
Brake pads, a critical element of vehicle safety, are also subject to counterfeiting.
Counterfeit brake pads are made from low-grade material compared to genuine brake pads, and may contain asbestos - an illegal...

Brisbane's new landmark "Vespa Girl" seen riding high above Scooters Scooters in Wickham Street Fortitude Valley has another reason to smile and wave at passers by, having won Gold in the Australian Sign Awards on the 31st of October 2008!
The annual competition is held on a National basis and the Vespa Girl took on contestants from as far away as W.A to take out the 'Neon bending & lighting effects' category.
Dealer Principal Joe D'Ercole was thrilled with the award stating...

Australia’s strongest men will go head-to-head in the name of the iconic HUMMER brand for the national OZ Strongman title this weekend.
For the first time ever, HUMMER will support the OZ Strongman Nationals – a contest which pits man against machine in the fight for the Australian title.
More than 38 athletes from around Australia will compete in six disciplines at Chandler Velodrome in Brisbane on Sunday 9 November, events which include pushing a rugged HUMMER H3 up to 30...

Ever the innovator, Kumho is launching the world’s first ultra low profile 15 Series tyre at the 2008 SEMA (Speciality Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas this week (November 4-7).
The 385/15ZR22 size ECSTA SPT KU31 has been developed as a conversion option for such exotic sports cars as the Ferrari F430, Dodge Viper, and Corvette Z06.
The company has used cutting-edge computer simulation technology to optimise the sidewall structure, thereby preventing the formation of...

OK, so we are all aware the world is facing up to some difficult financial times at the moment but how does it affect the automotive industry?
Superannuation funds are at an all time low, house prices are dropping if not plummeting, mortgages are being re-financed, the aussie dollar is worth cents just like in the year 2000, cash reserves are emptying and premium car dealership entrances are getting cobwebs. The re-structuring of the luxury car tax (LCT) for Australia couldn't have come at a...

Financial hard times may be headlining the news, but it appears everyone isn’t postponing purchasing cool gadgets. At the recent Hampton Court Palace Flower (not Motor) Show in London one exhibit featured this very cool garage.
Whilst one would have to take it easy upon entering and leaving to avoid stone chips from all those pebbles, it is very James Bond like, which leads us to think wouldn’t an Aston Martin have been a better choice?

Australia’s best-selling vehicle, the Holden Commodore today celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The first Commodore rolled off the line on 25 October 1978, signalling the arrival of what is now Holden’s longest-standing and most successful nameplate.
Commodore has been Australia’s top selling passenger car for the past 12 years and is on track to maintain that position in 2008.
More than 2.5 million Commodores have been built since the first VB series sedans went into production,...

Honda Australia says the commitment made by South East Queensland's (SEQ) Council of Mayors this week to improve trail bike riding opportunities is a huge step forward in meeting the needs of the growing numbers of enthusiasts in the area.
The mayors have agreed to establish a dedicated Trail Bike Taskforce to identify several key locations in the region that could be used for recreational trail bike facilities, then work out what is needed to get them up-and-running promptly.
"This...

DeLoreans from all over Australia made their way for the annual gathering held in Victoria this year. The event saw six DeLorean DMC-12’s join in for the weekend of festivities, not a bad turnout considering John DeLorean only manufactured 8,500 examples of the DMC-12 in Ireland.
The Delorean DMC-12 is famously known for its appearance in the three Back to the Future movies from the 80’s and is commonly known as the Delorean. John DeLorean an American designer and engineer was behind the...

Today was the official media launch for the new Ferrari and Maserati dealership owned by the Zagame family in Melbourne. The new dealership has moved to Swan Street Richmond, just around the corner from its old premise on Church Street. Why the move you might ask. Well, you have to see it to believe it, or rather experience it. The experience is what Zagames is all about when they sell their beautiful works of art, also known as Ferrari and Maserati.
The new premise is over 10,000 square...

Five months after going on sale in the land of Oz a reader has spotted Aston Martin’s flagship DBS cruising the streets of cosmopolitan Melbourne.
The half a million dollar V12 supercar was said to emit a beautiful roar as it took off from the lights. Readers from Melbourne will spot that the sleek 380kW DBS is heading towards Lygon St, an Italian precinct which on weekends is a regular haunt for shiny red Italian supercars.
It was quite a rare site as to the end of September only nine...

Adrenaline junkies need look no further than the 2008 Australian Motorcycle Expo Melbourne's Yamaha Action Arena for their hit of high-flying, gravity-defying stunts by leading FMX, Trials and Mini Bike riders.
The best in the business will be on show for four big days, from October 30 - November 2, at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The Yamaha Showtime FMX team, with Crusty regulars Steve Mini, Kain Saul and Matt McFerran are set raise the roof on the Expo with their...

On the weekend of the 28th September 2008, it was the first Spring event for the Rob Roy Hill Climb in the outer Melbourne area of Christmas Hills, one of the oldest Hill Climb racing events in Australia.
Because the Rob Roy Hill Climb is a short drive to King Lake we thought we’d organise a fleet of Lotus’ we managed to get our hands on an Elise S/C and an Exige to take to the event and then go for a spin around King Lake in the afternoon.
The line-up of race cars competing in the Hill...

Another PressPortal reader has sent in a photo of a car spotted on streets of Melbourne, this one is a Holden Special Vehicle Limited Edition.
The vehicle photographed is a rare VZ HSV SV6000 Limited Edition, HSV's SV badge dates back to NV Commodores in 1989 and just over 350 SV5000s were manufactured and are still considered a collectors item today.

Every year the V8 Supercars gear up for the 1000km endurance race around Mount Panorama, Bathurst. Many Aussies and Internationals make their Pilgrimage to watch this epic race once a year so we thought we'd make the effort to see what all the fuss was about... and geez was it worth it.

The weekend of the MotoGp at Phillip Island attracts a massive crowd, mostly on bikes. So many bikes that as a result the main street of Cowes is closed off to cars, and only Motorbikes are permitted to enter. The Phillip Island MotoGp is now so popular that tickets are sold out prior to the event, nevertheless there’s much to see on the Island to keep everyone entertained.

Yesterday at the Paris Motor Show Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo told journalists that Ferrari won’t be joining competitors in the upcoming sports luxury four door sedan segment.
Mr Montezemolo said “I have been president of this company for nearly twenty years, and I hope to continue for another twenty, and as long as that is so, Ferrari will not make a four door sedan”.
Three years from now buyers will not have a shortage of four-door sports sedans to choose from with the Porsche...

Following on from Porsche’s claim that Nissan must have achieved a record lap time of the Nurburgring by using non production racing tyres on its GT-R, Nissan have officially responded.
“The final word from us is that it was done on absolutely standard tyres which are available to customers in the showroom. They’re not trick tyres – absolutely standard tyres, normal road tyres.” Neil Reeve, spokesman Nissan Europe.
Apparently, the tyres used were Dunlop SP Sport Tyres which come...

One very noticeable feature of the Paris Show this year was the absence, with one or two exceptions, of the Chinese.
Whereas the 2006 Paris Show saw major displays from several manufacturers, notably SUV-makers Great Wall and Landwind, this year saw only two low-key displays from Brilliance and China Automobile France.
It seems the combination of tough European conditions, a focus on serving the fast-growing China market, and difficulties in adequately meeting European emissions and...

The Sun newspaper has reported this scary crash of a KTM X-Bow at the legendary Nurburgring racetrack. We’re not sure if this is a customer’s car or a development vehicle, however it is one hell of an excursion off the racetrack.
The X-Bow comes with a 2.0L four cylinder Audi sourced engine that produces 177kW (238bhp). A higher powered 2nd model is due to be released in 2009.
The KTM X-Bow is receiving mixed reviews by journalists, with EVO magazine noting that “it rides placidly and...

We live in the real world where men and women walk the earth equally, however when it comes to driving and girls getting bogged and stuck, we as men are expected to lend a helping hand... and why not... we love cars.
Let's look at what cars girls easily get bogged with.

The current November issue of EVO is one of our all time favourite editions of UK’s number one performance car magazine. As well as being the first to drive the 610bhp Caparo T1 on the road, they also head to the Nurburgring for the ultimate super car test.
The boys hang out with Black Falcon, a team that offers storage, maintenance and support for drivers wishing to base their cars at the Nordschleife. Over four days the they go for the Ring production car lap record in none other than a...

Rumour abounds that Porsche is accusing Nissan of cheating its GT-R Nurburgring lap record time of 7:29. How did they come to this conclusion? Porsche apparently purchased the new Japanese supercar and ran it around the Nurburgring alongside their 911 Turbo and GT2. They found that the GT-R repeatedly recorded lap times a significant 25 seconds less than the 7:29 claimed by Nissan.
However according to sources, Porsche even took it a step further by claiming they recorded faster times in...

Forgot the all too common place car model grade names such as S or GL, rumour has it that Skodi is contemplating turning it up a notch with next years all new Skoda Yeti. Car Magazine has reported that the fast becoming cool Czech brand may offer the Yeti in grades such as ‘Big Foot’.
The auto industry, maybe justifiably because of the high purchase price of a car compared to Fast Moving Consumer Goods, have tended to tread a more conservative path with branding than say the typical...

Fancy a new Ferrari for under US$500? Before you say yes there is a catch. It only has two wheels, it doesn’t have a motor and unless you’re still in kindergarten its probably two big for you.
Currently available online through the toy retailer Toy’R’Us this little bike, at US$475, would be the envy of the playground.
It reminds of us of the adult sized Ferrari racing bicycle from a couple of years back. It was built by Italian bicycle manufacturer Colnago in limited numbers and cost...

Many European manufacturers are focusing their sales drive on the BRIC markets, including China. But the Chinese are looking the other way as well – and large numbers of Chinese companies turned up at Hanover.
“We have 133 Chinese companies exhibiting at the show,” said Matthais Wissmann, president of the German automotive trade association, VDA. “That’s three times as many as at the previous show two years ago.”
Most of these companies are small components manufacturers, looking to...

It was only last month that Chrysler announced that it was strategically reviewing its Viper Brand. Leftlanenews are now reporting that Chrysler will shortly start taking bids to interested buyers for the Viper brand, with the possibility that a sale could be reached within a month.

Toyota and SunPower Corporation , a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today announced the completion of the largest single-roof solar power installation in North America. The 2.3-megawatt SunPower system will begin operation in early October at Toyota's North America Parts Center California (NAPCC) in Ontario, Calif.

According to the SEC, Ford Motor Companies Executive Chairman Bill Ford has has just sold 1 million shares of his common stock holdings. Considering that he was reported to have owned 6 to 6.5 million shares before the sale this is a considerable off loading of his share in the company. Bill Ford was reported to have made just over US$5 million on the sale according to Automotive News.

It looks as if the price of fuel is in for a rocky road ahead with the price per barrel of oil overnight recording its largest one-day gain on record according to Reuters. The price lept by US$16.37 to reach US$120.92 per barrel, that’s a 15.7 percent increase in the space of 24 hours.

Amongst the hundreds of Aussie large car Holden Commodore and Ford Falcons making up Melbourne’s taxi fleets, it’s now the Toyota Prius’ time to shine. With the 10,000th Australian Prius recently being sold we’re surprised it has taken until 2008 for them to appear in Australia’s second largest city.
At the top end of Australia, in the far smaller city of Cairns, they have been far more common. Thirty-two Prius taxi’s are currently on the streets of Cairns, with one example having just...

In light of Lamborghini’s 2008 Paris Motor Show concept sporting massive 295/35 ZR19 front tyres, we thought we’d look at the size of the tyres on the current bunch of go-fast cars.
By the look of the table below, if Lamborghini ends using this front tyre on its production car it will be a real game changer.

Over the past few months the team at PressPortal has been capturing some high speed action packed footage with use of the GoPro camera. The GoPro action camera means we don’t have to use duc tape to mount our Sony handycam to the bonnet of brand new cars and motorcycles. So how does the GoPro work you ask? Well, it is a small digital movie camera that is contained within clear plastic housing with a strong mounting bracket.